New Delhi: India going down against Australia on Sunday wasn’t just another regular game reaching its conclusion as the first innings saw a huge controversy breaking into the Women’s T20 World Cup 2024 game in Sharjah. The third umpire Jacqueline Williams came into the spotlight after declaring Australia batter Phoebe Litchfield not out who was adjudged out off Deepti Sharma’s delivery by the on-field umpire.
The LBW decision turned out to be contentious as Litchfield tried a reverse hit but missed it and was rather struck on the pads. It was the second delivery of the 17th over when the left-handed batter tried to reverse sweep off Deepti and the ball crashed into her pads. She was adjudged out after India appealed and the camp was all in joy. Litchfield referred the decision to the third umpire and that is when the controversy began.
The third eye judged that the ball actually pitched outside the leg stump line and asked the officials on the field to reverse their decision. The development however wasn’t received well by the Indian skipper Harmanpreet Kaur and Smriti Mandhana who fumed over it and claimed that as the batter changed her stance for the delivery, she should have been treated as a right-hander.
MCC : 36.3 Off side of wicket law saved Phoebe Litchfield
The off side of the striker’s wicket shall be determined by the striker’s batting position at the moment the ball comes into play for that delivery.#INDvAUS #T20WorldCup @MCCOfficial pic.twitter.com/rLFYN0TqUd
— Pushkar Pushp (@ppushp7) October 13, 2024
However, as per the official rules, the definition of off and leg sides doesn’t change even if the batter tries playing a switch hit, reversing his/her stance. Therefore, a ball that is pitched outside the batter’s leg stump automatically means that the batter can’t be adjudged LBW.
What does the rule say?
Moreover, Litchfield was saved by MCC’s rule 36.3 which clearly states, “The off side of the striker’s wicket shall be determined by the striker’s batting position at the moment the ball comes into play for that delivery.” The rule has always been contentious and so is the LBW call whenever it comes to any such instance in cricket where the batter tries making a switch hit.
Australia set a target of 152 runs for India after opting to bat first but the Harmanpreet Kaur-led side could manage 142/9 in 20 overs, losing the game by a narrow margin of nine runs. This leaves the Women in Blue in a precarious position to qualify for the semifinals of the Women’s T20 World Cup 2024.
Phoebe Litchfield was involved in a controversy that engulfed the India vs Australia group-stage fixture at the Women’s T20 World Cup 2024. India were upset about a contentious LBW call over her claimed dismissal. Cricket Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
